First plug-in hybrid EV for all of government catalogue

Mitsubishi says its Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid is the first and only one of its type listed in the Government’s catalogue of vehicles approved for its agencies’ consideration.

The five-year ‘All-of-Government’ vehicle purchasing contract was designed to assist more than 250 government agencies make effective purchases.

Economic development Minister Steven Joyce says the contract was future-proofed to accommodate hybrids and electric vehicles as demand develops.

“Of three hybrids listed by AoG only the Outlander is a ‘plug-in’ vehicle, recharging its batteries from the grid when stationary and, when necessary, from its petrol engine”, said Mitsubishi’s fleet sales manager Tony Johnston.

“The car’s range per tank is typically a thousand kilometres or more, so it’s suitable for intercity driving as well as urban use, with relatively little use of fuel. The one I drive goes to a petrol station once a month at most”.

Johnston says the purpose of the All-of-Government system, is to review submissions for data on safety, environmental impact, fitness for purpose, Warranty, and, crucially, total cost of ownership (TCO) over five years/100,000 kilometres.

“TCO isn’t something the average motorist worries about, but when managing a big fleet it’s a big part of the decision-making process,” says Johnston.

“In the case of a very large public sector fleet, savings run into potentially millions of dollars”.

The latest AoG catalogue includes five Mitsubishi model types and 15 specification choices: from the 1.2 litre Mirage, through Lancer and ASX to four Outlander options and seven variations of the 5-star safety rated Triton.